Part 19 (1/2)
He turned her around to face him. ”Whatever it is, you can talk to me about it.”
”I played when I was in Germany. There's an awesome music scene there and I hooked up with a few bands. I was living my dream and having the time of my life, writing and singing.”
He folded his arms and leaned against the counter. ”Yeah? That's great.”
”It was. We got an audition to do this big show. Except they only wanted the band. Not me. They hated my voice, said I was holding back the band.”
”Ouch.”
”The band kicked me out and that was the end of my singing.”
”Jenna, rejection is part of the business, isn't it?”
She shrugged. ”Maybe. I don't know. I just wasn't good enough.”
He pushed off the counter and came to her, laid his hands on her shoulders. ”You are good enough. You have an incredible voice. Maybe you just weren't the right voice for that particular band. It doesn't mean your voice wasn't good enough. It is good enough. I think you have an incredible voice.”
She lifted her gaze to his. ”It's okay. For singing in the privacy of my bedroom.”
”Bulls.h.i.+t. It's amazing.”
Her lips curved. ”You're not exactly a talent scout. But I appreciate you thinking so.”
”So what happened after that?”
”Nothing.”
”You mean, you stopped singing?”
”No, of course not. As you can see from the mess in the office, I'm still writing songs and singing them.”
”But not publicly.”
”Uh, no. Not until tonight. For you. Which I guess can't be considered public singing.”
His brows rose. She knew he wanted to say more, but maybe he read the pleading look in her eyes, because he smiled at her and said, ”Then I'm honored. Thanks.”
”You're welcome.”
He bent and brushed his lips against hers. ”You're a woman of many talents.”
Glad the tension had dissolved, she laughed. ”Yes, I am a h.e.l.l of a bartender.”
”Well, yeah, that, too, but those aren't the talents I have on my mind right now.”
”Is that right? And what is on your mind right now?”
”Something more bedroom oriented.” He scooped her up in his arms and headed down the hall toward her bedroom.
She gazed up at the obvious amorous intent on his face and smiled.
”Speaking of someone with many talents...”
FOURTEEN.
TY ASKED JENNA OUT A FEW DAYS LATER, SURPRISED when she agreed.
After the other night, she'd been upset, though she'd been a good sport about getting over it in a hurry. She wasn't one of those women who got mad and stayed that way.
A good thing, too, because he had special plans for her tonight, and she might end up p.i.s.sed off at him all over again. Hopefully, he'd maneuver this just right and she'd never know he set it all up.
He picked her up at eight. She wore jeans and a really s.e.xy s.h.i.+rt, which she covered up with a leather jacket and finished off with high-heeled boots. She looked so hot he wanted to forget all about taking her out and get down to the business of peeling off her jeans and getting her naked. But that wasn't tonight's objective.
Or at least it wasn't tonight's starting objective. He hoped to end up there later. He couldn't help himself. It's where his mind wandered whenever he was with her.
She climbed into his car and made herself comfortable by stretching her long legs out and crossing her feet at her ankles. She turned toward him, her long silver earrings dangling against her neck.
”You look beautiful tonight.” He leaned over and pressed a light kiss to her lips, coming away with a taste of something flavorful. He licked his lips.
”Cherries,” she gave him in answer. ”And thank you. You look pretty hot yourself.”
He was hardly dressed up. He'd worn jeans, a b.u.t.ton-down s.h.i.+rt and his own leather jacket to ward off the icy cold chill in the air. ”Thanks.”
He took off and got on the highway.
”So where are we going?”
”This club a few of the guys' wives and girlfriends have been talking about. Supposed to be a popular hotspot. A lot of good music, from what I hear, and some awesome games.”
”It's not a sports bar, is it?”
He laughed. ”Not a television screen in the entire place.”
”Then I'm sure I'll love it.”
The drive didn't take long since the spot was midtown in the city, which wasn't the place you'd expect to find some killer club, but the parking lot was full. They had to park halfway down the street. Ty helped Jenna out of the car, then took her hand as they walked toward the club.
”I know about this place,” Jenna said as they neared the front door. ”A couple of my friends mentioned coming here. Said it was hard to even get in the door. I couldn't believe it considering the location, but now I understand what they were talking about.”
There was a line outside. ”Fire code restrictions, I guess,” he said, then looked down at Jenna.
”Maybe we should have gotten here earlier.”
”We'll get in.”
She laughed and scanned the line. ”Yeah, by midnight.”